What is the correct answer to “how do you want it blow dried?”

[HesBoughtAFuckingHat]

I only get my hair cut, highlighted and blow dried once or twice a year and I always used to say “just straight please” when they asked me this. But it would be super straight, shiny and flat and always looked awful. So last week I asked for it to just be done naturally and she pretty much just rough dried it and it looked so scruffy I had to tie it back to walk home.

What is the correct answer? I have incredibly think, just past shoulder length hair and even though I always mention it when booking in for highlights it is thicker than they expect and they seem to get stressed with how long the highlighting takes. I normally go to a different hairdresser each time as I’ve never yet had a cut that made me feel better. I’d love to have it in soft, loose waves but is asking for this something I’d need to warn them of in advance as it would take longer? I’m 37 and I’ve never been able to style my hair how I’d like it to look or had the guts to even ask for what I think I want. And yes, I know I’m overthinking it all but I don’t really like the way I look but I’m recently divorced and would like to start making a bit more of an effort.

Crikey, something new to learn every day.... my first thought of an answer was with the breath of a hundred thousand ladybirds,.

@Vynalbob

Crikey, something new to learn every day.... my first thought of an answer was with the breath of a hundred thousand ladybirds,.

Love this!

As a former hairdresser - when you book the appointment, do you tell them about the length/quantity of hair you have? If you explain this and mention that you usually need extra time, it will make your appointment much more pleasant for everyone involved. You're doing yourself and your hairdressers a disservice by not booking extra time. Honestly, there's nothing worse than a new client coming in who hasn't had a consultation and has loads of/super long/thick hair for a complex service, especially when you have another client booked straight after!

After a colour I ask for a bit of root lift and body. If there's a change of style I'll get it dried straight after a cut in case it needs a little extra cutting after it's dry.

Correct answer might be to change hairdresser?

I ask for straight with a little volume at the root. I have flat hair, it needs a bit of a boost.

I leave salon with wet hair and a bit of curl cream
On a rare occasion I ask for curly to beach waves but generally my hair is best left to fry naturally

HD: How do you want it blow dried?
ME: You know I don't thanks, let me leave and do it myself at home.

She's not offended 😁 I have super ringletty hair and nobody (and I mean nobody) can get it looking like I can so I go home with wet hair and we both breathe a sigh of relief.

A curly blow. Where they dry it with round brushes and leave them in til it cools. Makes it swishy

Well I’ve learned something on this thread - but then I’ve got crazy troll hair which rarely behaves itself

I thought the answer would be ‘with a hairdryer until it’s dry please’

In winter, I prefer a gentle blow with a diffuser, so the curl is protected, but my hairdresser always cuts it a second time to finish and then grooms the natural curl. In summer, it rarely needs much drying.

I once answered this question with “with a hairdryer?”
My hairdresser cracked up explaining either straight or waves 🤦‍♀️ It was only a couple of years ago…I’m now 49 🤷‍♀️😂

There are loads of sites with hairstyle pictures. Don't know your age, but search for age group ie, 20s, 40,s etc suitable long hair style. They're pretty good for ideas. and then take the pciture to the hairdresser.

I've been having this problem, my old hairdresser used to do it beautifully over round brushes into lovely loose waves. Then she left and I have had some total fails - GHD curls which look awful but drop out in half an hour so a complete of time, straight which also doesn't suit. A photo is a good idea.

Big and smooth please. I have to use straighteners after blow-drying on my curly hair to get the look I want at home. A good blowdry keeps its shape for 3-4 days for me. On day three I might need to lift the roots wth a bit of hairspray. Somehow my hair has got easier to look after as I've got older, and needs less washing and pfaffing around.

@ThursdayAddams

As a former hairdresser - when you book the appointment, do you tell them about the length/quantity of hair you have? If you explain this and mention that you usually need extra time, it will make your appointment much more pleasant for everyone involved. You're doing yourself and your hairdressers a disservice by not booking extra time. Honestly, there's nothing worse than a new client coming in who hasn't had a consultation and has loads of/super long/thick hair for a complex service, especially when you have another client booked straight after!

I’d suggest the hairdresser needs to ask questions about length and thickness when booking rather than the client having to volunteering it and then the hairdresser getting arsey. I have no idea whether my hair takes longer than the average client because I only have the experience of my hair. It’s quite long and thick but I wouldn’t have thought of volunteering that on a phone call because I assume that’s not that unusual and if I’m asking for a blow dry you won’t undertook time assuming it’s short and thin.

*underbook

I ask for "with a brush and tipped under at the ends". In fairness my usual hairdresser does it brilliantly, but I have occasionally had my hair cut elsewhere and they all seem straightener-happy!

My friend asks for "a Kate Middleton blow dry" which works well for her.

I always ask for a quick rough dry - mine is fine and straight, and so many hairdressers fry my lovely fresh ends under the hairdryer. The waves fall out within 30 mins unless I hairspray it until crunchy anyway.

I usually say “straight but not with a straightener, I don’t want it super flat, can you give it a bit of lift at the roots and curl the ends round a big brusb as you dry it?”

I’ve tried asking for “curly please” but they just use a diffuser for ages and then send me out into winter with soggy messy hair.

If I just say “straight” they use straighteners and personally I don’t like that look.

My salon has online booking so no opportunity to specify length/quantity of hair.

I just say as natural as possible but often end up with it more 'styled'.

I don’t want to leave with wet hair as need to walk home. I say just quickly so it’s dry, no products or styling and the reason. They ignore me anyway and style away curling the back with a brush. I hate it. I have cerebral palsy and will never be able to recreate it, if just reminds me it could look much better. Since most HD do it I’ve stuck with one who I otherwise like.

@ThursdayAddams

As a former hairdresser - when you book the appointment, do you tell them about the length/quantity of hair you have? If you explain this and mention that you usually need extra time, it will make your appointment much more pleasant for everyone involved. You're doing yourself and your hairdressers a disservice by not booking extra time. Honestly, there's nothing worse than a new client coming in who hasn't had a consultation and has loads of/super long/thick hair for a complex service, especially when you have another client booked straight after!

The OP said in the OP that she mentions it when booking.

Isn’t it up to the hairdresser to either book a longer slot, or at the very least question the OP a bit to get a bit more information and figure out if a longer slot might be needed?

Why do hairdressers all a). assume everyone has bog standard hair, and b). only seem to be able to cut and style bog standard hair? Anything outside the realms of blow drying hair into straight submission is off the table for most hairdressers….

Big and bouncy or straight and smooth!

I booked in for a blow dry yesterday - got latest appointment £39 for wash and blow dry. She decided “big and bouncy” by the time I had driven home it had dropped - went to my party with floppy hair and £39 less!